Most Self-Improved
By: Erin Jensen and Bhavana Chilukuri
Language: en-us
Categories: Education, Self Improvement
Most Self-Improved is a personal growth podcast that releases new episodes every other Thursday, or Thersday! Unless that's annoying, then let's just keep moving! Show hosts Erin Jensen and Bhavana Chilukuri are friends who met in a comedy class in 2019, which they'd enrolled in after being dumped. They quickly bonded over the shared habit of dreaming bold dreams and wanting to go after them. Quite candidly and humorously they'll admit to you that they don't have it allll figured out, but they are certainly trying! In each episode, Bhavana and Erin will talk to an expert (typically in the wellness...
Episodes
Vision mapping with coach Beth Batson
Sep 19, 2025How do you move from setting goals that fizzle out to living a life that feels deeply aligned with who you are? In this episode of Most Self-Improved, we sit down with coach and vision mapping expert Beth Batson to talk about creating a vision that serves as your North Star.
Beth shares how vision mapping can shift you away from fixing what’s broken and instead guide you toward a future fueled by possibility, clarity, and meaning. You’ll learn how to map backwards from your future self, tend to your vision daily, and embrace both the...
Duration: 00:35:29Deciding if you want kids with Merle Bombardieri
Aug 28, 2025Should you have a baby? What if you want one, but circumstances are beyond your control? And how do you grieve when life doesn’t unfold the way you hoped?
In this deeply moving and pragmatic episode, hosts Bhavana Chilukuri and Erin Jensen speak with Merle Bombardieri, clinical social worker, therapist, and author of “The Baby Decision” and “Baby or Childfree?” For decades, Merle has guided people through one of the most life-shaping questions: whether to become a parent or embrace a fulfilling, childfree life.
This episode will speak to you if you are:
Wrestling... Duration: 00:36:24How to pivot toward work you love with career coach Emily Lamia
Aug 15, 2025Get the Sunday scaries? Feel stuck in a role that’s “fine” but far from fulfilling? You’re not alone — nearly 80% of people feel disengaged at work, according to Gallup. But what if you could design a career that lights you up instead of draining you?
In this inspiring conversation, career development coach Emily Lamia, founder of Pivot Journeys, shares practical, energizing strategies to help you figure out what’s next — whether you’re dreaming of a bold career change, craving more autonomy where you are, or just wondering if your “dream job” even exists.
Emily’s advice is bo...
Duration: 00:43:42Make hard choices easier with decision coach Nell Wulfhart
Aug 01, 2025If you’ve ever felt paralyzed by choice — whether it’s small, like deciding on dinner, or big, like changing careers — this episode is your push toward clarity. Decision coach Nell Wulfhart joins hosts Erin Jensen and Bhavana Chilukuri to help untangle what’s actually keeping us stuck. From overthinking to fear of regret, this honest conversation offers practical strategies and mindset shifts to help you finally decide and move forward.
Nell shares why taking action — even imperfectly — is often better than staying in indecision, why most decisions are reversible, and how to build your decision-making muscle. You'll learn h...
Duration: 00:29:28Stop waiting, start packing: How solo travel changes you with Melissa Byron
Jul 03, 2025You don’t need a significant other, bestie, or bachelorette invite to see the world. You simply need the desire (which you’ve got), the confidence to take your dreams seriously, and the courage to act on it.
In this episode of Most Self-Improved, hosts Bhavana Chilukuri and Erin Jensen chat with Melissa Byron of A Solo Woman Traveling — an expert who curates luxury European tours for women. She’s here to tell you that freedom, fun, and self-discovery don’t require anyone else’s permission.
“I was about to turn 30,” Melissa remembers of her first solo trip...
Duration: 00:22:08Are you being too picky when it comes to dating or just thoughtful? Coach Rachel Simeone breaks it down
Jun 19, 2025This is such a fun and informative episode for anyone who has been accused of being picky or secretly wondered if their standards for dating are too high. Dating coach Rachel Simeone joins hosts Erin Jensen and Bhavana Chilukuri to unpack what it really means to be picky and what settling feels like.
“Settling comes from a place of fear, a place (of) insecurity,” Rachel says. “The message you're giving yourself is something like, ‘What if I never find anyone else? Maybe I can't get the kind of person I want. Maybe this is all there is for me.’...
Duration: 00:28:38What is breathwork? Feeling your yes and no with Tricia Dimon
Jun 05, 2025Your Most Self-Improved hosts Erin Jensen and Bhavana Chilukuri kick off Season 3 with an episode that might be just the exhale you need. Tricia Dimon, a breathwork facilitator and founder of Breath of Abundance, explains the inner clarity and calm that can be achieved through intentional breath.
If you’ve ever felt stuck, disconnected from your intuition, or like your body is carrying stress you can’t name, this one is for you. Learn about a new tool for self-regulation and decision-making that you can try during the episode.
In this episo...
Duration: 00:28:27Solo parenthood: A bold journey with Ali Cherry
Oct 12, 2024Maybe you haven’t found the right partner, or perhaps pairing up isn’t of interest at all, but you’d still like to pursue your dream of becoming a parent on your own. In this eye-opening episode, Most Self-Improved hosts Bhavana Chilukuri and Erin Jensen chat with Ali Cherry, wearer of multiple hats, including therapist, writer, standup comic and mom.
Discover Ali’s inspiring story of embracing life on her own terms and her journey to becoming a mom. This heartwarming episode is not only an exploration of what it means to pursue solo motherhood but also a ce...
Duration: 00:21:49What is envy? Why we feel it and how to use it for good
Sep 26, 2024It’s a four-letter word with a bad rap, but we’re going to talk about it anyway: envy.
We just exited “Why is everyone in Italy without me?”-season, but there are still times when we feel like we’re lacking or behind — as the only single girl at dinner, or intimidated by all of the influencers and CEOs on our #FYP that seem to have it all (and all figured out).
What’s wrong with us? (Spoiler alert: absolutely nothing!) And what can we do with those feelings? In this episode, life coach Stacy Kim reve...
Duration: 00:26:01Balancing effort and ease with life and leadership coach Stephanie MacKinnon
Sep 13, 2024"Most Self Improved" hosts Bhavana Chilukuri and Erin Jensen chat with life and leadership coach Stephanie MacKinnon to explore the elusive balance between effort and ease. If you’ve ever struggled with knowing how hard to push yourself and when to rest, this conversation is a must-listen.
In this episode:
02:47 Stephanie's journey and insights: “It’s a constant cycle of learning and checking in."
04:26 Defining effort and ease and why the word “should” is a red flag for Stephanie
7:17 How to know if you’re burnt out: “Checking in wi...
Duration: 00:20:33Minimalism 101 with Dara Zycherman: How to start simplifying your life
Aug 23, 2024As minimalist lifestyle coach Dara Zycherman explains, minimalism extends far beyond just decluttering. Discover how minimalism, rooted in mindfulness and self-reflection, can transform not only your physical space but also your mental clarity and confidence.
Listen as Dara explains the difference between organizing and simplifying, the emotional weight of our possessions, and how our outer environment impacts our inner well-being. Tune in to learn practical tips for starting your minimalist journey and how this mindset shift can lead to a more aligned and fulfilling life.
In this episode:
3:10 D...
Duration: 00:31:06How to make friends as an adult, with therapist Leah Marone
Jul 18, 2024In this episode of Most Self-Improved, hosts Erin Jensen and Bhavana Chilukuri chat with therapist Leah Marone all about adult friendships.
Leah emphasizes our innate need for connection and the challenges of maintaining friendships as we age. If you’ve been sad about an evolving friendship, don’t worry. Grieving is totally normal, Leah says. And clear, proactive communication can help.
This chat covers evolving expectations of friendships, loneliness, making new acquaintances later in life, and resolving conflicts in a healthy way.
Tune in for an important conversation that will inspire you to take s...
Duration: 00:43:13Finding authentic, lasting happiness with Dr. Ilene Cohen
Jul 04, 2024Most Self-Improved hosts Erin Jensen and Bhavana Chilukuri welcome marriage and family therapist Dr. Ilene Cohen for this episode on happiness.
Discover how a strong foundation built on values and principles, rather than fleeting pleasures, leads to true fulfillment. And learn about the impact of relationships, self-evaluation, and overcoming challenges to achieve lasting joy.
Whether you're seeking ways to align your behaviors with your values or curious about the difference between instant gratification and genuine happiness, this episode offers deep insights and practical advice to enhance your well-being.
In this ep...
Duration: 00:23:06Thriving on your own: Embracing single living with Peter McGraw
Jun 20, 2024In this episode of Most Self-Improved, behavioral economist Peter McGraw discusses the benefits of embracing singledom as someone whose identity is independent of their relationship status. He calls it living as a Solo.
Peter says being single is often “viewed as temporary, viewed as less than. It's like, ‘Oh, I'm sure you'll find your person,’ kind of dinner conversation.” But Peter wanted to alter that perception and examine “what are the opportunities that come from being single and to celebrate this time in life, whether it be for now or forever.”
Drawing from his book released in J...
Duration: 00:35:38What we’re getting wrong about consistency: Goal achievement coach Kristin Burke says stop thinking it’s all or nothing
Jun 06, 2024In this episode of "Most Self-Improved,” hosts Erin Jensen and Bhavana Chilukuri chat with goal achievement coach Kristin Burke about the power of consistency in reaching your goals. It’s one of Kristin’s four C's of goal achievers, after all — along with clarity, confidence and courage.
For our audience, Kristin outlines a simple yet effective four-part goal-setting process. She also reveals how we can learn to identify meaningful goals, develop courage by "partying with fear," and implement consistent habits to make your goals a reality.
Join us for a motivating conversation that will leave you equi...
Duration: 00:40:02The secret to your best morning routine, aka your 'sacred hour,' with therapist Kerry Biskelonis
Jun 06, 2024Hello! Allow us at Most Self-Improved -- hosts Bhavana Chilukuri and Erin Jensen -- to reintroduce our podcast. While we launched in September 2023 as a podcast book club devoted exclusively to personal growth titles, we've pivoted to an interview format in which we talk to experts in the wellness space seeking answers to questions like, "Where the heck do I make friends as a thirty-something?" "Do I really want to have kids?" "How do I make the most of my morning?"
Speaking of, "morning routine" has become one of those buzzy phrases, like "gut health" as of...
Season 2 Trailer: Introducing a new and improved Most Self-Improved
Jun 03, 2024Naturally a podcast named Most Self-Improved is returning with a few, well, improvements!
Though the show launched in September 2023 as a book club podcast exclusively reading personal growth titles, your hilarious, relatable and never-afraid-to-be-vulnerable hosts have gotten rid of the required reading.
Going forward, hosts Bhavana Chilukuri and Erin Jensen will interview therapists and experts in the wellness space to help answer questions plaguing them and their fellow Millennials: “How do I make friends as a thirty-something?” “Do I really need a 25-step skincare routine?” “How do I truly know if I want kids?”
Episodes...
'Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones': Part 3
Jan 11, 2024Do you have a vision of who you’d like to be in 2024? Perhaps it’s someone who consistently works out, reads, or eats a more balanced-diet? Perhaps this version of you is one you’ve imagined for a long time, but for whatever reason you haven’t been able to make it a reality. In light of the New Year, we’re reading James Clear’s “Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones” which might help you be the person you’ve wanted to be, that you know deep down you are. And good news: to...
Duration: 00:26:20'Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones': Part 2
Jan 05, 2024Do you have a vision of who you’d like to be in 2024? Perhaps it’s someone who consistently works out, reads, or eats a more balanced-diet? Perhaps this version of you is one you’ve imagined for a long time, but for whatever reason you haven’t been able to make it a reality. In light of the New Year, we’re reading James Clear’s “Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones” which might help you be the person you’ve wanted to be, that you know deep down you are. And good news: to...
Duration: 00:24:21'Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones': Part 1
Dec 28, 2023Do you have a vision of who you’d like to be in 2024? Perhaps it’s someone who consistently works out, reads, or eats a more balanced diet? Perhaps this version of you is one you’ve imagined for a long time, but for whatever reason you haven’t been able to make it a reality. In light of the New Year, we’re reading James Clear’s “Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones,” which might help you be the person you’ve wanted to be, that you know deep down you are. And good news...
Duration: 00:28:48Interview with ‘The Perfectionist's Guide to Losing Control’ author Katherine Morgan Schafler
Dec 21, 2023Calling all perfectionists: this series is for you! In this episode, Katherine Morgan Schafler, psychotherapist and author of "The Perfectionist's Guide to Losing Control,” answers all of our lingering questions, including:
How can you detach from the outcome of something that you care about so much, like wanting to be a parent? As a perfectionist, are my expectations too high for a romantic partner? Am I being too picky? How do we strike the balance of effort and rest?
More:
Buy the book and read along. The reading schedule is as follows. Read...
Duration: 00:30:35‘The Perfectionist's Guide to Losing Control’: Part 3
Dec 14, 2023Calling all perfectionists: this series is for you! In "The Perfectionist's Guide to Losing Control,” psychotherapist Katherine Morgan Schafler gives a formula for feeling restored and highlights the importance of allowing yourself to experience pleasure today.
“Restoration is a two-phase process. You empty yourself out, you fill yourself back up,” she writes. Katherine says restoration is the combination of passive relaxation (think watching TV, taking a nap) and active relaxation (things like walking, cooking, going to a social gathering).
Katherine also warns against putting off pleasure: “When you make your access to pleasure conditional (a ‘treat’ for...
‘The Perfectionist's Guide to Losing Control’: Part 2
Dec 07, 2023Calling all perfectionists: this series is for you! In "The Perfectionist's Guide to Losing Control,” psychotherapist Katherine Morgan Schafler explains that perfectionists can be great at self-punishment if they don’t meet their expectations. Examples of punishments include critical and negative self talk, self-sabotaging the good in your life, and denying yourself the space and time to experience simple pleasures.
Why would we punish ourselves? What sense does that make? Katherine points to three reasons:
We’re evaluating our worth on our performance, instead of our existence.We’re not understanding how important being compassionate with ourselve... Duration: 00:20:08'The Perfectionist's Guide to Losing Control': Part 1
Nov 30, 2023Calling all perfectionists: this series is for you! In "The Perfectionist's Guide to Losing Control,” psychotherapist Katherine Morgan Schafler says it’s time to embrace who you are.
“Perfectionists are intelligent people who understand that everything can’t work out perfectly all the time,” Katherine explains in her book. “What they sometimes have trouble with is understand why they still feel so disappointed by imperfection in the face of that intellectual concession. What they sometimes wonder about is why they feel so compelled to endlessly strive. What they’re sometimes confused by is what they’re striving for in the first...
A special Thanksgiving episode! "Gratitude" by Oliver Sacks
Nov 23, 2023For this very special Thanksgiving episode of Most Self-Improved, hosts Bhavana and Erin discuss Oliver Sacks' collection of essays "Gratitude." The late Sacks penned the book during his battle with cancer.
“I cannot pretend I am without fear. But my predominant feeling is one of gratitude," he wrote. "I have loved and been loved; I have been given much and I have given something in return; I have read and traveled and thought and written. I have had an intercourse with the world, the special intercourse of writers and readers."
He added: “Above all, I have...
'Build the Life You Want': Part 2
Nov 16, 2023Who wouldn't like to be even just a little bit happier? The four pillars of happiness, identified in “Build the Life You Want: The Art and Science of Getting Happier” by Arthur C. Brooks and the one and only Oprah Winfrey, are discussed in this episode: family, friends, faith, and work.
In this episode:
2:41 A recap of what Episode 1 covered
3:55 So you're being unproductive? Why you shouldn't feel bad about it.
5:10 Pillar 1: Family and family conflicts addressed
6:30 Why you should pick a partner who complements you
9:13 Pillar 2: Friends and how much...
'Build the Life You Want': Part 1
Nov 09, 2023Who wouldn't like to be even just a little bit happier? This episode kicks off our series on “Build the Life You Want: The Art and Science of Getting Happier” by Arthur C. Brooks and the one and only Oprah Winfrey.
"... Happiness is not a destination. Happiness is a direction," the authors explain. And if you think targeting the things that make you unhappy will result in more happiness, you're wrong the authors say.
“The common strategy of trying to eliminate suffering from life to get happier is futile and mistaken; we must instead look for th...
'Deeper Than Money': Part 3
Nov 02, 2023If you’ve been wanting to get a better handle on your finance$, our series on “Deeper Than Money: Ditch Money Shame, Build Wealth, and Feel Confident AF” might be for you.
Author Chloe Elise grew up in a household that didn’t talk about money. In college, she felt crushed by her student loans and decided she would read up on the subject of finance. But the restrictive, shame-inducing texts didn’t work for her. She believes in treating yourself to the $7 latte and striving for goals in a way that does’t leave you feeling deprived. Oh...
'Deeper Than Money': Part 2
Oct 26, 2023If you’ve been wanting to get a better handle on your finance$, our series on “Deeper Than Money: Ditch Money Shame, Build Wealth, and Feel Confident AF” might be for you.
Author Chloe Elise grew up in a household that didn’t talk about money. In college, she felt crushed by her student loans and decided she would read up on the subject of finance. But the restrictive, shame-inducing texts didn’t work for her. She believes in treating yourself to the $7 latte and striving for goals in a way that does’t leave you feeling deprived. Oh...
'Deeper Than Money': Part 1
Oct 19, 2023If you’ve been wanting to get a better handle on your finance$, our series on “Deeper Than Money: Ditch Money Shame, Build Wealth, and Feel Confident AF” might be for you.
Author Chloe Elise grew up in a household that didn’t talk about money. In college, she felt crushed by her student loans and decided she would read up on the subject of finance. But the restrictive, shame-inducing texts didn’t work for her. She believes in treating yourself to the $7 latte and striving for goals in a way that does’t leave you feeling deprived. Oh...
'Bold Move: A 3-Step Plan to Transform Anxiety into Power': Part 3
Oct 12, 2023Most Self-Improved hosts Erin Jensen and Bhavana Chilukuri conclude their series on "Bold Move: A 3-Step Plan to Transform Anxiety into Power" by Dr. Luana Marques with Parts 4, Align, and 5, Conclusion. Purchase "Bold Move" to read along.
Dr. Marques aims to add more meaning to readers’ lives by helping them identify their values and areas where they maybe be stuck due to a tendency to avoid uncomfortable situations.
In this episode, Bhavana and Erin discuss Dr. Marques tips for creating a life aligned with your values. Summarizing the book for... Duration: 00:41:08
'Bold Move: A 3-Step Plan to Transform Anxiety into Power': Part 2
Oct 05, 2023Most Self-Improved hosts Erin Jensen and Bhavana Chilukuri continue their series on "Bold Move: A 3-Step Plan to Transform Anxiety into Power" by Dr. Luana Marques with Part 3: Approach.
Dr. Marques aims to add more meaning to readers’ lives by helping them identify their values and areas where they maybe be stuck due to a tendency to avoid uncomfortable situations.
Purchase "Bold Move" and read along. Share your thoughts with Erin, Bhavana, and the Most Self-Improved community on Instagram @MostSelfImproved.
Read each section before list... Duration: 00:34:33
'Bold Move: A 3-Step Plan to Transform Anxiety into Power': Part 1
Sep 28, 2023Erin Jensen and Bhavana Chilukuri launch the Most Self-Improved podcast with "Bold Move: A 3-Step Plan to Transform Anxiety into Power" by Dr. Luana Marques. The three-part series (see the reading schedule below) begins with Part 1: The Stuff That Keeps Us Stuck and Part 2: Shift.
Dr. Marques aims to add more meaning to readers’ lives by helping them identify their values and areas where they maybe be stuck due to a tendency to avoid uncomfortable situations.
Purchase "Bold Move" and read along. Share your thoughts with Erin, Bhavana, and the... Duration: 00:46:03
Most Self-Improved trailer
Sep 16, 2023Consider this trailer Most Self-Improved's table of contents, a preview of how this podcast just might change your life.
Duration: 00:01:20